Can someone confirm for me which is nicer, the JW Marriott or Casa Magna in Cancun.

THANKS!

The JW...

Thanks BuzzyJ!
I have been before and stayed at le meridien; which we loved, and was planning a last minute trip this weekend and found about the same price to stay at the ritz or JW. I have walked around the ritz and found it to be very nice, but this time we are bringing our 2 year old daughter and have never been to the JW. What do you recommend?

Sorry, I can't be more helpful, but I too have only walked through the Ritz. What a nice decision to have to make! We love the Meridien too...

weve been to cancun 6 or 7Xs we had the worst time ever at the casa magna maybe a 2.3 star hotel on their best day very run down to tell you the truth! the JW is nicer and more money but why the marriott ? Hotel Fiesta Americana Condesa is a great place and blows away the marriotts ! check it out for the money their are alot of better places then the marriotts!!!

Loved the JW. Casa Magna looked like a dump by comparison. No contest on the pool area. JW buffet breakfast is great-make sure you get a deal where it is included. Also, the spa is too die for. Best facial I have ever had.

traveling101- We got what I think is a good deal on the JW for this weekend too. I have done exhaustive research and it seems that CM is elegant and more old world while the JW is big, modern and has all the amenities. Both are probably good choices. I guess we'll find out this weekend. Have fun. Threehearts

There's no comparison -- the JW all the way...

Have to agree JW is the best place however Fiesta Americana GRand Coral Beach, Le Meridien and the Ritz were all wonderful too!!! Go to trip advisor.com and check out the reviews from people who have stayed there!!!

The JW is nicer than the older Casa Magna of course but since they are right next to each other if you stay at the Casa Magna you can use the facilities of the JW. This is something to keep in mind, if you want to save money and stay in the Casa Magna room but you can use the JW facilities. The Casa Magna looked ok I didn't think it was a dump but the JW is newer and nicer.

Thanks everyone! I guess I spent too much time go back and forth and lost out on the good deal, they were all gone by the time I tried to book. We are going to go to Our Lucaya Westin in the Bahamas next weekend for 4 nights from Atlanta instead. THe price is great and hope the experience will be as fun. I really like Mexico!
Just curious, where did you find the deal to JW cancun?

Casa Magna a dump? Hardly. I am amazed that anyone could say that.

maybe not a dump but no even a 3 star hotel on a their best day!!!!!!

Well, Curt, I guess I am entitled to my opinion of the Casa Magna. I was there in July, and I thought it was a dump. The pool area reminded me of those shabby pools in the really old retirement developments in Miami. All cement, no landscaping, and poor layout. It was all cramped into a tiny space. The hotel is run down and there are water stains on the ceilings. I also remember a distinct odor permeating around the lobby that was definitly mold. The lounge chairs are crappy and dirty and crammed together. The food at the afternoon barbeque by the pool was average at best. Say whatever you want, I stand by my opinion.

P.S. We moved to the JW after one night and it was the best upgrade we ever paid for.

Gee Bobby, you're being a little harsh. I think it's fair to say that whenever booking at a Marriott, no matter where it is, you can be pretty sure that it will be a fairly decent place. The Cancun CM Marriott, however, is aging (it doesn't take long in Cancun) and needs to be upgraded. It doesn't help its cause that it's now surrounded by competitors such as the JW, the Meridien, the Ritz, and the new Royal Sands which has a wonderful new spa. We walked through the CM two weeks ago.

Ok bobby, since you need to know all the details--I booked CM because my husband and I were meeting 3 friends there. They chose the hotel. From the photos, it looked fine to me. However, once I got there and saw the condition the hotel was in, I was really annoyed. I work hard and when I travel I want to enjoy where I am staying. If that makes me a hotel snob, I will gladly accept the title. I had the same issue in Nice, France when I booked the LeMeridian based on internet photos. It was disgusting, and I moved to the Negresco. At several hundred dollars per night there is no need for me to accept substandard conditions. If I am paying $99 a night to stay in a pensione or motel, that is another story. So, I still stand by my opinion. CM is a dump. But if you think it is great, you are welcome to your opinion as well.

I agree we were told its a 5 star hotel checked out the web site and it looked good when we got there we were in shock !!! the place is falling apart Sorry if we like to get what we pay for !!Its a 2or3star hotel at best and the food and service 1 star I will never use a marriott hotel again!!!!!

It seems like the Marriotts vary depending on where you are. I stayed at the Marriott Frenchmen's Reef in St Thomas in October and it definitely needed some TLC, but the brochures gave it a high rating. I walked through the Marriott in Aruba last year and it seemed just fine.

I just arrived back from staying at the JW Marriott last night (2.27.2003). The JW Marriott is one of the nicer Marriott hotels I've stayed at... and I've stayed at a bunch of them. The Casa Magna is not a "dump", but it is definitely older and less posh than the JW. The Casa Magna has a great Thai/Japanese restaurant called Mikado, and the JW has great Italian restaurant called Gustino. The remaining restaurants at both hotels are ok, but I'd suggest going elsewhere... try La Disterilla for good Mexican, and Lorenzillo's for good seafood... both near the Marriotts in the Hotel Zone.

Deciding which one to stay at really comes down to what you like in your room. The JW's rooms are more modern, and more elegant. The Casa Magna is more or less a standard Marriott hotel room. Other than the rooms, all other differences about the hotels are almost moot because you can use the facilities of both hotels equally, including billing stuff to your room regardless of which hotel you're staying at. The hotels are connected via a walk way, so getting back and forth is easy. The JW has a few more stroes than the Casa Magna, but other than that, their respective coffee shops, gift shops and cigar stands, etc. are identical.

The beaches of both hotels are identical, so that shouldn't be a factor in your decision. The pool at the JW is very well laid out, and everyone should be able to easily find a spot that fits their style (e.g secluded, near the pool, overlooking the beach). We walked through several of the other hotels nearby (including the Ritz Carlton) and I'd have to say the pool at the JW was the best we experienced. The only negative is that there isn't really a great pool side waiter service. Strangely, unless you're using the "on beach" facilities at the JW, you'll seldom see a waiter come your way. One solution: there is a nice swim up bar that is usally very secluded... it's located by the second pool area in the courtyard area of the hotel. The pool at the Casa Magna is average at best.

Have fun!